[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 9]
[House]
[Page 13056]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      DREAM ACT BECOMING A REALITY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Gutierrez) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. GUTIERREZ. Mr. Speaker, I believe there is no greater cause for 
celebration in America than when we expand rights to more of our 
people. We are never truer to our American values than when we look at 
a group of people and demand that they be treated with dignity and 
respect. We are never more patriotic than when we protect and expand 
the rights of honest, hardworking people, when we live up to our 
original promise of liberty and equality and give meaning to those 
American words: ``We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men 
are created equal.''
  Right now, we have reasons to celebrate because, shortly, the 
Department of Homeland Security and the White House are scheduled to 
announce guidelines on the application process for DREAM Act-eligible 
immigrants to defer deportation and get work permits so they can take a 
vital step toward living freely and fully in the only nation that has 
ever truly been their home.
  Today, I want to congratulate the DREAM Act-eligible youth who have 
fought so hard for this right, the 1 million of them that will be 
taking a step forward. And I want to remind DREAM Act-eligible youth 
that because of the intelligent action by President Obama on August 15, 
they will be able to apply for work permits and protection from 
deportation.
  On August 15, Mr. Speaker, they will take a step out of the shadows 
and into the light. I encourage them to take this step, and I want them 
to know that help and resources are available. But first, a warning: 
any progress on immigration is soon followed by some unscrupulous 
attempts to make money off the backs of deserving immigrants. So I say 
to my friends today: Be careful.
  There is no reason that applying for relief through President Obama's 
use of prosecutorial discretion should be expensive or cumbersome. If 
someone says the only way for a DREAMer to apply is to write a big 
check, my advice to the DREAMer is they should run in the other 
direction; they are being lied to. But DREAMers should run toward help 
because help is on the way.
  In Chicago yesterday, the Illinois Coalition for Immigration and 
Refugee Rights and I announced a workshop that will be held on August 
15--the very first day the 1 million young people can apply for work 
permits and come out of the shadows and get deferred action from 
deportation.
  The event will be held at Navy Pier in Chicago. Mayor Emanuel, 
myself, and Senator Durbin--who has played such a leadership role on 
the DREAM Act for years--will be there. We will have all the resources 
anyone needs to apply that day. It will be free. We will answer 
questions and we will provide the resources necessary to thousands of 
young people that we expect will attend.
  And we are not alone in Chicago. All across the country, plans are 
being made by immigrant advocates and organizations and elected 
officials for how to help DREAM Act-eligible youth to apply for their 
work permits and a stay of deportation. Tomorrow, I will be joined by 
my colleagues to talk about resources available coast to coast.
  As one important step, I encourage people to visit this Web site: 
dreamrelief.org. That's dreamrelief.org to find out more about who is 
eligible, how to apply, and where people can receive assistance, 
dreamrelief.org.
  On August 15, across America, thousands of honest, hardworking, law-
abiding DREAM Act-eligible youth immigrants should be celebrating by 
lining up and taking that historic step toward equality. It's a day of 
long-overdue fairness for our young people, and I don't want one 
eligible young person to miss this opportunity.
  I want our young DREAMers to demonstrate to America on August 15 what 
they've demonstrated to their communities and their families and their 
friends their entire lives: they've worked hard and earned this right 
by excelling in school, by helping their neighborhoods, and by serving 
our Nation.
  I know who you are--you are the next generation of leaders of our 
great Nation. On August 15, show all of America who you are. We need 
your example because it's vital to remember that every time we've 
expanded civil rights in America--every time--someone tried to stand in 
the way. From women's suffrage, to voting rights for African Americans, 
to Americans with disabilities, to marriage equality, someone will 
raise their voice against expanding the rights enjoyed by some 
Americans to all Americans. There is always someone who says these 
rights, these liberties, this equality, it's for me, it's not for you.
  So I ask my DREAM Act-eligible friends--1 million strong--on August 
15, show America who you are and remind America that freedom and 
equality is for all of us.

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